Church of the Second Chance: A Faith-Based Approach to Prison Reform

by Jens Soering

When we draw inspiration from “the great cloud of witnesses” to the Christian faith (Hebrews 12:1), we often forget that many of those witnesses were people we might shun and condemn if we met them namely, convicts and criminals. In his fourth book, Jens Soering demonstrates that, despite committing or abetting theft, murder, and even terrorism, figures like Adam and Eve, Samson, and Paul were raised to places of honor in what we might call the Church of the Second Chance. In fact, the stories of these biblical outlaws contain the clues to solving a social crisis that has been building for over thirty the problem of America’s prisons. Today, criminal justice experts and legislators are struggling to fix the public health and safety disasters resulting from mass incarceration in the United States. The Church of the Second Chance explains how victims, offenders, and society at large can heal through the careful, considered and Christian application of the same key that freed Moses, David, and others to do great things after they broke the law. Each chapter begins with a fruitful Bible study, goes on to examine a crucial problem besetting our jails and penitentiaries, and ends with an interview that demonstrates how people are working today, in and out of prison, to apply God’s word to our own lives and times.

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2008

About the author

Prison reform advocated and convicted double murderer.

Soering had been imprisoned for a double murder of ther parents of his girlfriend in Virginia, USA. Söring claims he took the blame for his girlfriend and an other mom, thinking he had diplomaric immunity. Söring denies having committed the crime.

In jail Soering has written books about prison reform and his case.

Reviews

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging presentation of prison populations and the Prison Industrial Complex, spurred by the outsourcing of prison care and upkeep (a misnomer for sure). Not always easy to read, or even absorb, but challenging in a way that makes us wonder what we have created and supported as a nation. The statistics alone will shock you.

[John Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly biased, written by an ex con (murder) but still interesting

[Paula Yerke · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a JustFaith class I took, this was required reading and what an eye-opener this book was to me! It is the 4th book written by Jens Soering, a prisoner since 86. The book speaks to the DISASTER of our U.S. prison system from a true "insiders" perspective. The system is broken in it's treatment of prisoners, victims and society. The amount of money we spend for the outcome we get is absurd. It just is not working.

His use of biblical stories is well-researched and thought provoking. So many of our biblical heroes (Samson, Moses, David, Paul) were criminals in their day and yet....What God can do!! I was impressed with his Biblical knowledge.

If there is one book to put on your must read list, this is it. You will be changed.

[Mary Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been tracking and categorizing my reading for the last 520 books, and this book doesn't fit into any of my 25 categories. I notice with embarrassment that there's no social justice category and no non-fiction category.
OH.
So I will create both categories for this exceedingly well researched and documented narrative about what we call the criminal justice system. It's mixed with biblical stories. Yes. I really don't know how to file this one, but I think "Best of" might be appropriate.

[One · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Jens Soering, is a convict who calls Americans to examine our prison system and the horrible injustice perpetuated by it. He reminds us that Jesus died a criminal's death, and explains why the goal of prison should be to reconcile offenders with society rather than to punish them.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYTHING. HE WRITES. IS AMAZING.